Flying Dog Extra Special Gonzo

Brewed by Flying Dog Brewery
Style: Imperial/Strong Porter
Frederick, Maryland USA

750ml bottle from "Magic Fridge 2006". Many thanks to MIBRomeo for giving us the opportunity! My first sip of the night and holy Brett! Horse hair and socks fresh from the gym interweave themselves amongst a tapestry of sour grapes and key limes. Working your way through the layers of complexity that the wild yeast tied together reveals a light, very light, hint of dark chocolate and roasted malt. Not to be outdone, the finish is dominated by a tart cabernet sourness that cold-cocks your palate to the floor. Thank you indeed!

Semi-opaque and inky black in color, with mahogany edges and a dotted, sandy sheaf on top. Lime juice gets squeezed over bittersweet chocolate, and licorice root shoots up the nose. Cocoa bricks get injections from lactic acid and lemony esters. Dry, bitter roasted chocolate dryly sluices through with tannic black licorice sticks and souring lactic acid. Broiled caramel with charred edges shingling off of the gritty, tart cube. Effervescence dies quickly, and a thickly, tannic-soured stream of chocolate takes the bittered cake. Soured, cooked mocha coolers get an irrelevant splash of dried papaya excretions, falling into said glass rather than the intended smoothie. Thanks for sharing, Chuck!

Bottle provided by the incomparable MIBRomeo at the Magic Porch party! Bottled on 7/21/06. Poured a beautiful deep brown with about 1" of creamy darker brown head. Nose was spicy and lively with brett funk really taking over.. the porter presence was greatly diminished, but some burnt chocolate and some vinous notes remained. Again a huge brett presence in the flavor, overshadowing the porter characteristics... sharp vinous notes, lactic acid, and burnt chocolate stood out.. The palate really thinned out from the bug treatment.. flowed decently, but wish it retained a bit more body. Intriguing. Thanks Chuck!

Milwaukee YeHA! 2006

Thank to MIBRomero for opening this to kick things off. This was the first of a few brett beers in a row. My stomach did not enjoy the experience but it was fun to compare a few to see how it impacts different types of beers. This one retained its baltic porter traits while taking some intruiging characteristics.

Aroma / Appearance - Peppermint candy canes, sweaty shoes and chocolate truffle form a nose that is simultaneously inviting and shocking. The pour was deep block with no head. The lacing clung tenaciously to the sides of the glass as I drank, leaving behind layers of tan foam.

Flavor / Palate - As much of a shock as the nose was, taking a sip was evn more of a kick in the teeth. The chocolate and caramel characteristics of the baltic porter were accompanied by a sour vinous consistency. It was definitely an unusual and unique combination of flavors. I don’t think I could drink this unless I was in the right mood and only on a full stomach.

Sampled at the Falls Tasting: Rebottled from on tap. Black brown, small head. Lightly bitter, big brett sour twang! Slight astringency in finish. Outrageous.

Chocolate, vinous chocolate, oak, vanilla and a touch of brett but it isn’t too strong in the aroma. Dark black in color with a thin light brown head. Crazy flavor... sweet and sour,...buttery chocolate that is balanced with fruity brett. End of the flavor has a bit of a grainy finish. Palate is very dry,..the brett really thinned this one out. Really interesting, it tastes like an infected porter. Huge thanks to MIBRomero..awesome.

Multiple samples, GABF 2006. Head is fully diminishing. Body is dark brown to black. Aroma is moderately malty (roasted/burnt grain), with notes of wood, alcohol, whiskey. Flavor is moderately to heavily sweet, lightly to moderately acidic, lightly bitter. Finish is lightly to moderately sweet, moderately acidic, lightly to moderately bitter. Medium body, watery texture, soft carbonation. Dull aroma; scorched grains and booze for the most part. Sourish flavor and watery, so not pleasant in the mouth department either. You probably have to be a big fan of the regular Gonzo to enjoy this.

GABF 2006. Aroma is all oak, too much oak and not enough everything else. Very sour, cherry kriek flavor. It is not what I expected. Thin, no thanks. I like brett & sourness, but it takes away from this entire beer.